Articles

Gaming Operations

A Guide to Great Investigative Reports

By Pat Leen and Tom Nelson

Author: 
Pat Leen and Tom Nelson

Last month we discussed the importance of a properly conducted regulatory investigation and some of the challenges involved with getting them right. In this article, we will discuss the equally difficult task of presenting the data and information gathered during the investigative phase into a logical, coherent, well-documented and comprehensible written report.

The Vicious Cycle, Part II: Volatility

By John Wilson

Author: 
John Wilson

Wilson dives into how volatility can affect operators’ hold budgets, how the Wilson Law of Bonusing affects that budget and the role randomness plays in the cycle. This is a continuation of last month's article on the study of a vicious cycle designed to pique your interest in game selection, slot math and risk (to both operator and player) and to make you think aout high-volatility, large-award games.

Table Game Management In-Depth: An Interview with Douglas Florence

By Linda Haelsen

Author: 
Linda Haelsen

Douglas Florence, director of the gaming sector for NICE Systems, explains many aspects of effective table game management that will help maximize your casino’s profits in this Q&A. As a table games and security expert, Florence says the answer lies in automating table game management. Advice like this from a gaming professional doesn't come around every day!
 

Regulatory Investigations Made Simple

By Pat Leen and Tom Nelson

Author: 
Pat Leen and Tom Nelson

The tasks of investigation and report writing represent the most difficult challenges faced by many regulators.  Discover effective approaches to regulatory investigations and suggestions for completing them expeditiously and professionally. Learn about everything from planning investigations and interviewing to dealing with criminal activity.

Networked Gaming Guide Volume 1 Issue 1

By Various Contributors

Author: 
Various Contributors

It’s no secret there is a great deal of confusion surrounding server-based gaming, networked gaming or whatever you want to call it in our industry. That’s why CEM developed a special guide to help create an open forum for discussion on all things server-based. The first edition of this special supplement sheds light on the confusion and mystery surrounding networked gaming, as our contributors share essays on their vision of networked gaming and what it holds for the industry.

The Slot Mathemagician Presents: A Vicious Cycle

By John Wilson

Author: 
John Wilson

It would be a great understatement to say that slot machines have changed over the past 10 years. The addition of rich multimedia sound, sharp, colorful graphics on crystal-clear LCD monitors, and eye-catching top-boxes featuring exciting bonus games makes the player’s experience more exciting. Add in the chance of a life-changing jackpot, and the player is not only entertained, but also has a chance to win something significant.

Class II Grandfathering: The Technology Behind the Process for the Not-So-Technical

By Russell Witt

Author: 
Russell Witt

On Nov. 10, 2008, the minimum technical standards for gaming equipment used with the play of Class II games went into effect. The regulations taking effect mean something completely different to everyone involved with this process, from the tribal gaming regulator, the Class II gaming system manufacturers and the independent testing laboratory.

Player Error Factors in Blackjack: How Poor are Poor Players?

By Bill Zender

Author: 
Bill Zender

Determining the house’s mathematical edge in a game like roulette is quite easy. First, you determine the amount paid to the customer for every positive player outcome and the amount taken by the house for every casino positive outcome. Next, you take the difference between the two and divide it by the total number of possible outcomes.

Design Patents: A Potential New Jackpot for Gaming Equipment Designers

By John S. Artz

Author: 
John S. Artz

The gaming industry has not utilized design patent protection as an avenue for protecting novel aesthetic features of its new products to the fullest extent possible—if it has done so at all. Without this protection, companies that manufacture and sell gaming equipment that incorporates novel aesthetic features cannot easily preclude slavish copying by their competitors.

CRM, BI & U, Part VI: Teradata, Thinking Outside the Box

By John Wilson

Author: 
John Wilson

Would you consider purchasing a customer relationship management (CRM) or business intelligence (BI) solution from a vendor that is not specifically a gaming company? Although it may seem strange, it is actually quite common to turn to a manufacturer outside the industry to find gaming solutions.